An absent-minded professor's blog.

Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010)

This post happens to be one of my super backlogs, which I should have written about last December 2010. I’m hoping IMAX cinemas are still showing Tron: Legacy, mostly because this movie is really better seen through a gargantuan 3D screen.

Much as people, especially those who’ve seen the original, have many complaints about the recent Tron, I actually appreciate it. Though I’ve become largely desensitized by most visual effects these days (call it saturation by familiarity since I’m exposed to it at work), watching Tron: Legacy got me curious about the original. First thing’s first, let’s make it clear that I don’t think Tron: Legacy has anything new to offer story-wise. I simply turned off my brain and enjoyed the visual effects and the adventures that go with the ride. I especially loved the games, my favorite toy being the light cycle. The chase scenes were absolutely exhilarating!

Above: Official wallpaper. Ok, here’s where the creepiness factor comes in. Have you ever heard of Dr. Mori’s robotic theory of the Uncanny Valley? (Which states that human beings will empathize with robots until the robots become so very close to resembling them…then the empathy will quickly turn into revulsion.) Here it is in action, with Jeff Bridges graphically becoming 20 years younger.

…Um, yeah. Seeing the CG version speak makes me think that if he were real, he must be full of Botox.

Anyway, it was good to watch the original Tron (1982) shortly after getting out of the theater. I had so much fun seeing what light cycles looked like in the 80s. I was even amazed at the level of 3D skills they had at that time (this was nearly 30 years ago, people!), even if they looked isometric to me. Although…I heard Jeff Bridges’ hand here was the first 3D ever. LOL.

If you’re an animator, imagine a workstation that has only 330MB storage and 2MB memory. That’s what they had to work with 30 years ago. Sweet jayzuz!

What I like best about it is that it reminded me of video gaming history and true enough, this was developed at the height of Pong‘s popularity. (Pong was Atari Inc.‘s first game, which was released before any of us were born. Heh.)

Thing is, it took a second viewing for me to realize — and my sister had to point it out, too — that it was peppered with computer jargon. I guess, we take a lot for granted now, but I find it amazing that a nerd movie like this would become a box office hit. I guess moviegoers were geekier during that time, digging jokes uttered by binary entities. I can’t imagine cracking a geek joke to my students now without expecting a blank stare.

And um. Hm. Well, I didn’t need to get to the second viewing before realizing that there were so many potentially yaoi scenes. (Refer to above screenshot.)

Right. Like I said. Heh.

Anyhoo, both Trons are fun and I’m not about to compare them. I needed the second installment to discover the first one, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So…if Tron: Legacy is still showing in IMAX, I suggest experiencing it for yourself. =^.^=

About The Author

Doc B is a crazy cat lady, a former behavioral scientist turned video game producer, and a full professor. She is an INFJ who is married to an INTJ game/software engineer. You can grab a copy of her book by clicking the book thumbnail below.